Bill Text: HI HCR91 | 2024 | Regular Session | Amended


Bill Title: Requesting The Department Of Human Services To Establish A Working Group To Address Issues Relating To Reimbursements And Payments To Home- And Community-based Services Providers.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-05-01 - Received notice of Adoption in House (Hse. Com. No. 826). [HCR91 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-HCR91-Amended.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

91

THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO ESTABLISH A WORKING GROUP TO ADDRESS ISSUES RELATING TO REIMBURSEMENTS AND PAYMENTS TO HOME- AND COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES PROVIDERS.

 

 


     WHEREAS, home- and community-based services providers carry out essential and necessary services to the State's elderly and vulnerable populations; and

 

     WHEREAS, a 2022 study conducted by the actuarial firm Milliman of reimbursement rates for home- and community-based services found that, for all provider types, current median direct care wages paid by the service providers fell below the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics twenty-fifth percentile for those occupations; and

 

     WHEREAS, adequate reimbursements and payments are crucial to sustain and improve the quality of care provided by home- and community-based residential care home facilities; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is a pressing need to identify and implement measures to enhance reimbursement rates for all home- and community-based services providers; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Human Services is requested to establish a working group to address issues relating to reimbursements and payments to home- and community-based services providers; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consist of the following members:

 

     (1)  The Director of Human Services, or the Director's designee who is requested to serve as chair of the working group;

 

     (2)  The Director of Labor and Industrial Relations, or the Director's designee;

 

     (3)  The Director of the Executive Office on Aging, or the Director's designee;

 

     (4)  One member of the House Standing Committee on Health & Homelessness, who shall also be a past or present member of the Kupuna Caucus, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

 

     (5)  One member of the House Standing Committee on Human Services, who shall also be a past or present member of the Kupuna Caucus, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

 

     (6)  Two members of the Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, who shall also be past or present members of the Kupuna Caucus, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to invite the following individuals to become members of the working group:

 

     (1)  A representative from the International Longshore & Warehouse Union, Local 1000;

 

     (2)  A representative from AARP Hawaii;

 

     (3)  A representative from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii;

 

     (4)  A representative from Providing Healthy Homecare for Hawaii;

 

     (5)  A representative from the Oahu Filipino Community Council;

 

     (6)  A representative from United Community Healthcare of Hawaii;

 

     (7)  A representative from the Adult Foster Homecare Association of Hawaii;

 

     (8)  A representative from the Alliance of Professional Primary Care Administrators;

 

     (9)  A representative from the Association of Residential Care Administrators;

 

    (10)  A representative from The Primary Care Providers of Hawaii; and

 

    (11)  An individual who owns and operates a community care foster family home; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to:

 

     (1)  Conduct a comprehensive analysis of the current reimbursement and payment system for home- and community-based services providers;

 

     (2)  Identify areas where improvements can be made to better support home- and community-based services providers;

 

     (3)  Explore strategies to enhance reimbursements and payments to home- and community-based services providers, including identifying any necessary policy changes, negotiation strategies, and alternative funding sources;

 

     (4)  Engage with home- and community-based services providers, clients, family members, and other relevant stakeholders to gather input and feedback on proposed reimbursement and payment enhancement measures; and

 

     (5)  Request funding of $350,000 to conduct the comprehensive analysis of the current reimbursement and payment system for home- and community-based services providers; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that when conducting its activities, the working group is requested to prioritize equality and fairness in reimbursement and payment distribution to ensure all home- and community-based services providers, regardless of size and location, have access to increased funding opportunities; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to provide quarterly updates on its progress to the Legislature, stakeholders, and the public, to ensure transparency and accountability; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2025; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to cease to exist on June 30, 2025; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, Director of Human Services; Director of Labor and Industrial Relations; Director of the Executive Office on Aging; President of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union, Local 1000; State Director of AARP Hawaii; President and Chief Executive Officer of the Healthcare Association of Hawaii; President of Providing Healthy Homecare for Hawaii; President of the Oahu Filipino Community Council; President of United Community Healthcare of Hawaii; President of the Adult Foster Homecare Association of Hawaii; President of the Alliance of Professional Primary Care Administrators; President of the Association of Residential Care Administrators; and President of the Primary Care Providers of Hawaii.

Report Title: 

Home- and Community-Based Services; Working Group; Department of Human Services; Reimbursements; Payments

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